Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-29
THE Grand army at ~. louis.
rRv telegram TO the pispatch.l


ST.. LOUIS, September 2S.-The rain
continues to drop down steadily and
with increased showers. Everything
is drenched and the ardor Of the clti-
zens and soldiers dampened. Thou
sands OF veterans, after waiting twenty
tour hours in the rain to realize the
promises of the signal-seryice office OF
fair weather, have started for home.
Yet there are many thousands left, and
Grand Marshal Grier has issued an
order to prepare for the parade. The
amy will move at 10 o'clock without
fail.
The column was formed in ten diyi-
sions shortly before il o'clock. A body
of police headed the procession, fol-
lowed next by Grand Marshal Grier
and his aids and the Commander in
Chief and his staff OF one hundred men
mounted. Next came the War Cover
rors and invited guests IN close car
l.aees. The men in the procession
were almostan equipped with umbrellas
orldbbcr coats, or both, ard had their
trousers rolled up. AS the guests
in carriages were obliged to
keep the windows closed but little was
seen of them. The Department OF
Missouri WAS given the right of the
line. ardthey mustered several thousand
strong. General Sherman and the
reviewing officers stood in the rain,
which came harder as the procession
nassed the reviewing stand. 1t took
the Missouri division twenty-five min
utes to pass. The colored posts were
cheered. The tattered battle-hag'
called forth enthusiastic cheers. Al
100 o'clock the Sons of Veteran:
brought mp the rear, and the rank:
were broken.
The encampmoDt opened in due form
in the entertainment hall OF the Expo
sition building at 1880 z. NJ. Tht
cornmander.in. chief, General Fairchild
presided.
In his annual address he gives the
total number of members borne on the
roll of order at the last national en-
camument at 32e. 400. The rumber re
ported June 90, 1887, was 372, ,G74; ac
tual gain in five quarters, As, l57
The Increase Of members in ninety
davs. ending June 30, 1887, in good
standing was 1866 In 1880 there
were f9.C3l members. In the last
Eve quarters there have been
mustered into the Grand Army ~, 355
There were reported June 80 1887, il
good standing, 336, j62; ; suspended
25,920 10y delinquent reports, 1882
Totsl ut the last returns borne upon the
rolls. 3i2,G74. Amount reported ex
pended in charity from March, 1886, tC
March. 1887, inclusive, is 1858, 93f
This money was disbursed to 1850
comrades and their families, and $50.
others we're assisted, making 26, 606 in
diyiduals who had received benefits
during the year. In conclusion h'
said :
In fraternity, charity, and loyalty
We stand proud of Ahe fact that there
is not now. nor has there ever been
any bitter feeling Of hate for those o
our. fellow-citizens who once in arm
against us, but now being loyal
have long ago taken their old
time places in our hearts, never,
we devoutly hope, to be removed
thereirom. We have not now mol
have we at any time since the wal
closed had any disposition to oper
again the bloody chasm which once
unhappily divided this people. W.
not or " will not ourselves reopen tina
dre .dful abyss, but we viii with the
loyal people North aud South protes
az inst oil attempts which others maxi
todo so by holdingup for especial homo
and distinction anything that pertain
to or in any manner glorifes the caust
of disunion with the people of thu
South. We only seek to continue
friendly rivalry long ago entered upoI
| in the effort 10 make our beloved LAM
great and prosperous, and its pcopl
intelligent, happy, and yirtuous. w
will rival them in exalting all that per
tains and honors this great Union, ant
condemning everything that tends =
foster hostile sentiment thereto. w
| Will IlNdl lutul III SdiuCob NANC1fOh "
inculcate in the minds Of all citizen
of this country, and especially Of on
children, love for the United States o
America to the end that present AM
coming generations shall in every par
OF the land believe in and maintain tru
ALLEGIANCE thereto, based upon para
mount respect for and fidelity to it
Constitution aud laws which will leat
them TO discountenance whatever tend
to weaken loyalty, incites insurrectiou
treason, or rebellion, or in any manne
impairs the efficiency and perma
nency OF our free institutions, and WI
impel them TO encourage the spread Q
universal liberty, equal rights, an
Justice to all men, and to defend thes
sentiments, which are quoted from tn
fundamental law OF our order. wit
their lives il need be; and to the fuI
ther end that they shall 80 revere th
emblems Of the Union that under n
circumstances can be coupled wit
them in the same honorable terms th
symbols Of sentiment which is on
taeonistic TO its perpetuity.
The conclusion OF the address an
the allusion 20 the South met mo-
hearty response and was greeted wit
cheers.